Lesson

Describing work routines

Professional daily activities

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Describing work routines

This lesson focuses on natural expressions and idioms used to describe daily work routines. You'll learn common verbs and phrases to talk about starting the day, handling tasks, breaks, and finishing up — useful for conversations, emails, and interviews.

  • Use short, natural phrases to describe repeated actions (e.g., 'I check emails').
  • Include time expressions and sequencing words to make routines clear (e.g., 'after', 'before', 'in the morning').
  • Prefer simple, idiomatic verbs for business contexts (e.g., 'wrap up', 'follow up', 'catch up on').

Table

Common Expressions for Work Routines

Expression Meaning Example
start the day the actions you do when you begin work I start the day by reviewing my calendar.
check (my) emails read and respond to messages I check my emails before the morning meeting.
catch up on bring tasks up to date This afternoon I'll catch up on pending reports.
follow up (on) contact someone again to get more information or confirmation I'll follow up on the client's request by Friday.
prioritize decide which tasks are most important I prioritize urgent tasks at the start of each day.
take a break stop working briefly to rest We take a short coffee break at 10:30.
wrap up finish work or complete tasks for the day I wrap up at 5 PM and prepare tomorrow's agenda.

Tip

Key rule: Keep routines simple and specific

When describing work routines, be concise and use verbs that clearly express habit and sequence.

  • Use present simple for habitual actions: 'I check emails', 'She prepares reports.'
  • Pair verbs with time markers: 'in the morning', 'every day', 'after lunch'.
  • Use phrasal verbs for natural tone: 'catch up on', 'wrap up', 'follow up'.

Be specific about timing when necessary (e.g., 'at 9 AM' or 'before meetings').

Example

Examples in context

I start the day by reviewing my calendar and setting priorities.

I check emails first thing and flag messages that need immediate replies.

After lunch, I usually catch up on administrative tasks and follow up with clients.

I try to wrap up by 5 PM so I can prepare a short plan for tomorrow.

Tip

Common mistakes to avoid

Learners often make predictable, universal errors when describing routines. Watch out for these.

  • Mixing present continuous and present simple: say 'I check emails' (habit), not 'I am checking emails' for routines.
  • Incorrect word order: place time expressions appropriately (e.g., 'I check emails every morning', not 'I every morning check emails').
  • Wrong prepositions for time: use 'in the morning', 'at 9 AM', 'on Mondays'.
  • Overly formal or literal translations: prefer natural collocations like 'wrap up' instead of 'finish up completely'.
  • Missing objects for verbs that need them: 'check emails' (not just 'check').

When in doubt, choose simple, common verbs and standard time phrases.

Quiz

Choose the most natural sentence describing a daily work routine:

Hint: Think about tense for repeated actions and correct word order.

Quiz

Complete: Every morning, I _____ my emails before meetings.

Hint: Think of the verb used for reading and responding to messages.

Quiz

Which phrase best expresses finishing work tasks for the day?

Hint: Think of an idiom that means 'finish' or 'conclude' tasks.

Key Points

Vocabulary

check

verb CEFR A2 //tʃek//

to look at something to ensure it is correct or acceptable; often used for emails or documents

I check my inbox every morning.

Expression

catch up on

phrasal verb CEFR B1 //kætʃ ʌp ɒn//

to do tasks that you have not had time to do earlier

I'll catch up on reports this afternoon.

Vocabulary

prioritize

verb CEFR B1 //praɪˈɒrɪtaɪz//

to decide which tasks are most important and deal with them first

She prioritizes urgent client requests every morning.

Expression

follow up (on)

phrasal verb CEFR B1 //ˈfɒloʊ ʌp//

to take further action to get a response or result after an initial contact

I'll follow up on the proposal by Friday.

Expression

wrap up

phrasal verb CEFR B1 //ræp ʌp//

to finish or complete something, often used for ending the workday or a meeting

We usually wrap up the meeting in 30 minutes.

Expression

take a break

expression CEFR A2 //teɪk ə breɪk//

to stop working for a short period to rest

Let's take a break and return in 15 minutes.